Understatements

New Jersey Bride

"Coco Chanel believed you must have a beautiful foundation to make a beautiful dress look as beautiful as it should,"  says Cathy Earnhardt, owner of the Dain Shoppe in Morristown.  "If you don't have the proper lift for your bust and a smooth line from your chest through your hips and down, even the most incredible gown will look less than fabulous."

"A bridal gown is more like a costume than like a simple dress you'd wear to a garden party," Earnhardt explains, "so the lingerie worn with it is more elaborate."  Her top choice for an undergarment that enhances the silhouette of you and your gown is a bustier."

"Most brides are fearful that bustiers will be uncomfortable because of the boning, as well as because of the hooks that secure the garment," Earnhardt says.  "they're actually much easier to wear than these women imagine."

"When a bustier or bra is properly fitted, it shouldn't pinch or constrict you.  It should appear smooth and define your body," explains Earnhardt.  "You should feel its presence, but not feel uncomfortable or be overly aware that it's on.  Remember to have realistic expectations of your foundations," she adds.  "The 'suffer to be beautiful' adage is a fallacy.  When all eyes are on the most exciting and glorious day of your life, the last thing you want to feel is tortured by your underwear.  If undergarments are chosen wisely and fitted professionally, they should not only be comfortable and produce a smooth silhouette under your gown, they should also give you the confidence that the photographer won't catch you pulling them up or down."

"According to Earnhardt, stockings actually are a better choice with bustiers (which, as mentioned above, often come with removable garters), because they help the garment stay in place.  "They're also easier to contend with when you have to 'freshen up'", she says.

Cathy Earnhardt of the Dain Shoppe in Morristown recommends peignor sets by designer Flora Nikrooz for brides who want to feel special.  "Her nightgowns look beautiful on everyone," she says.  "Women enjoy wearing them because the fabrics are soft, light as a feather, and hand-washable."

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